ISBN 0-8894-331-8. Originally published by Douglas & McIntyre, Vancouver, B.C. and now back in print from Raincoast Books.

Delightful cookbook of simple, flexible recipes--and "how to do it" for each recipe is illustrated on the facing page by the author's cartoons. James Barber is famous in Canada for his easy, inventive style of cooking. Often he throws in a few extra recipes in the anecdotes about each recipe. This book has a bean-and-tuna salad, "Fagioli Toscanelli con Tonno," which takes 5 minutes to make and is a star at pot-luck dinners, and a couple of lovely faux Chinese recipes, Har to Fay Kit and A Good Sensible Dinner for Four (stir-fried lettuce--try it!).

Flash in the Pan is a particular favourite of mine, as the title refers to fast cooking--and I've done my time as a single, working mother. It's part of my permanent collection.

In this 1981 version, the pages are rust, light blue, or saffron in sections, adding to the book's unusual "personality." This is the only book of the original three that has an index, which is very welcome.

Book review:
- vancouverwomen.com

James Barber cookbooks:
- Flash in the Pan
- Ginger Tea Makes Friends
- Fear of Frying
- The Urban Peasant: More than a Cook Book
- The Urban Peasant: Quick and Simple
- Peasant's Choice: More of the Best from the Urban Peasant
- Peasant's Alphabet: More of the Best from the Urban Peasant

See The Urban Peasant Hub.